Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Just Like Antlers, But From Trees

It all began forever ago when I came across a photo of Luke Bartel'stwig creations on pinterest and couldn't get them out of my mind. Branchlers, the description called them.

Simple brilliance.

When the neighbors had some perfect branches in their pruning pile, I snatched them up

before the recycle truck could haul them away.

They were tucked safely in the garage on top of my to-do pile.

Where they've sat since April.

I'm happy to report that this lovely cooler weather has jump started my mojo and instead of questioning it and wondering how long it'll last, I'm just enjoying the ride.

And finishing projects.

This hacked version isn't nearly as sophisticated as the original, as it's been watered down for my limited skills and attention span, but it's truly a case of instant gratification. Amen.

1: pick up a blank wood plaque from the craft store (less than $2)

2: paint it your color of choice

3: sand and add a coat of stain so it doesn't look so just-painted-ish (optional)

4: attach a hangy bracket to the back

Then you're gonna try to cut an angle on the branches with a miter saw, but it's not going to work the way it did in your head. After your loud sighs inspire your hubby to intervene, he'll offer his pocket knife to whittle off an angle so that they can sit flush to the wood.

With the smallest bit you can find, predrill holes so that the wood doesn't split when you start hammering.

Super small nails hold the branches in place.

{a little black paint will make the heads disappear}

The original plan was to hang the finished product above the cabinet in the boys room,

but Hayden asked if they could go above his bed and I gotta admit: I love it.

when i was a kid, we used to spend our summers in blessed, beloved, amazing Slovenia. Downside is, everybody thought that shooting stuff is pretty cool, so the houses we stayed in and visited were riddled with taxidermy.yuck.I love this approach, no hurt, no kill, but all the homeliness. Love.